Revelation 19:14
in Revelation 19The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure.
KJV
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
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This verse in Revelation 19
Commentary
13 notes on this verseThe armies which were in heaven - Angels and saints over whom Jesus Christ is Captain, Clothed in fine linen - All holy, pure, and righteous.
This site's exposition
The armies which were in heaven followed him
The armies of heaven ride white horses and wear the same fine linen just given the bride in verse 8, and the positions are named with holders on who they are, glorified saints, angelic hosts, or both together, without this exposition needing to settle which to keep the verse's own force. No weapon is named for this army; the battle that follows is fought by the Rider's word alone, and his followers ride to witness a victory rather than to win one by their own strength.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
A commentator
Primasius of HadrumetumCOMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:14 · Written before 560.
proposed
In heaven the churches, as though "with unveiled face beholding the glory of God," all being pure in heart and made whiter than snow by grace, are said to follow Christ.… They always go forward on white horses, that is, with pure bodies and minds, …
And heavenly hosts followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen; for the Lord is both the commander of the heavenly powers and has so named himself, speaking as Joshua son of Nun. (see Jos. 5:14) Saying, "I the commander-in-chief of the power of …
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 2.62-63 · Written before 253.
proposed
All the hosts of heaven follow this Word of God. They follow the Word who leads them and imitate him in all things, especially in having mounted white horses like him, for all things are open to those who understand. And just as "pain and grief and groaning fled" at the end of things, so, I think, obscurity and dismay fled when all the mysteries of God's wisdom burst forth with precision and clarity.
We interpret the armies of heaven to be the bride herself, who above was said to be prepared for the marriage of the Lamb. When it says that they were "on white horses," it is speaking either of the purity of faith, or it is …
The Medieval Church1 voice
[The heavenly armies] signify the heavenly orders that are resplendent with the excellence of their nature, with the sublimity of their thoughts and with the brightness of their virtues and their intimate union with God.
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
And the armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following him on white horses. That is, the Church in pure bodies imitates him, which, because of the struggle of its contest, rightly receives the name of army.
Clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Which he previously explained to be the righteous acts of the saints, as the Psalmist says: Let your priests be clothed with righteousness (Psalm 132).
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
), a very large one, made up of many armies; angels and saints followed his conduct, and resembled him in their equipage, and in their armour of purity and righteousness--chosen, and called, and faithful.
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And the armies which were in heaven,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
the armies . . . in heaven--Compare "the horse bridles," Re 14:20. The glorified saints whom God "will bring with" Christ at His advent; compare Re 17:14, "they that are with Him, called, chosen, faithful"; as also "His mighty angels." white and clean--Greek, "pure." A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, and CYPRIAN omit "and," which ORIGEN and ANDREAS retain, as English Version.
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A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And the armies which were in heaven followed him - The heavenly hosts; particularly, it would seem, the redeemed, as there would be some incongruity in representing the angels as riding in this manner. Doubtless the original of this picture is Isa 63:3; “I have trodden the wine-press alone, and of the people there was none with me.” These hosts of the redeemed on white horses accompany him to be witnesses of his victory, and to participate in the joy of the triumph, not to engage in the work of blood. Upon white horses - Emblems of triumph or victory. See the notes on Rev 6:2. Clothed in fine linen, white and clean - The usual raiment of those who are in heaven, as everywhere represented in this book. See Rev 3:4-5; Rev 4:4; Rev 7:9, Rev 7:13; Rev 15:6.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| στρατεύματα | strateumata | armies | G4753 → | 8 times |
| τὰ | ta | who were | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οὐρανῷ | ourano | heaven | G3772 → | 272 times |
| ἠκολούθει | ekolouthei | were following | G190 → | 90 times |
| αὐτῷ | auto | after Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐφ᾽ | eph᾽ | upon | G1909 → | 883 times |
| ἵπποις | ippois | horses | G2462 → | 17 times |
| λευκοῖς | leukois | white | G3022 → | 25 times |
| ἐνδεδυμένοι | endedumenoi | having clothed themselves in | G1746 → | 27 times |
| βύσσινον | bussinon | fine linen | G1039 → | 5 times |
| λευκὸν | leukon | white | G3022 → | 25 times |
| καθαρόν. | katharon | pure. | G2513 → | 27 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
στρατεύματαarmies
strateumataG4753 →8 times
τὰwho were
taG3588 →19766 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
οὐρανῷheaven
ouranoG3772 →272 times
ἠκολούθειwere following
ekoloutheiG190 →90 times
αὐτῷafter Him
autoG846 →5565 times
ἐφ᾽upon
eph᾽G1909 →883 times
ἵπποιςhorses
ippoisG2462 →17 times
λευκοῖςwhite
leukoisG3022 →25 times
ἐνδεδυμένοιhaving clothed themselves in
endedumenoiG1746 →27 times
βύσσινονfine linen
bussinonG1039 →5 times
λευκὸνwhite
leukonG3022 →25 times
καθαρόν.pure.
katharonG2513 →27 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 17:14They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen…
it leads to
- Romans 8:30
And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
- 1 Timothy 6:15
which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time.
- Romans 8:30
Through
Revelation 7:9After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes…
it leads to
- Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and…
- John 12:13
They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”
- Revelation 5:9
Through
Revelation 19:8She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.
it leads to
- Isaiah 61:10
I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom…
- Isaiah 61:10
Through
Jude 1:14Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 33:2
He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned upon us from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand.
- Psalms 50:3–5
Our God approaches and will not be silent! Consuming fire precedes Him, and a tempest rages around Him.
- Deuteronomy 33:2
Through
Revelation 4:4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.
it leads to
- Matthew 19:28
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve…
- Matthew 19:28
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies17
On this verse
On this chapter
- Angelology
- Armageddon
- The Deity of Christ
- The Lake of Fire and the Second Death
- The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
- The Messianic Psalms
- The Scarlet Thread
- The Second Coming
- The Branch and the King: the Four Plantings of Tsemach
- The Bride & the Jewish Wedding
- The Crown
- The Garment & the Robe
- The King
- The Name
- The Sevens of Scripture
- The Sword
About Revelation
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:14; Apringius of Beja, TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:14; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 2.62-63 and Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19:14.